Guide bar lifting mechanism for warp knitting machines



H. C. NOE

April 14,1953

GUIDE BAR LIFTING MECHANISM FOR WARP KNITTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1 1951 INVENTOR. Harm?! C/Voe j] BY m W m ATTORNEY April 14, 1953 H. c. NOE 2,634,594

GUIDE BAR LIFTING MECHANISM FOR WARP KNITTING MACHINES ATTORNEY H. C. NOE

April 14,1953

GUIDE BAR LIFTING MECHANISM FOR WARP KNITTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 1 1951 INVENTOR. flarofd Ci JVoe BY ATTORNEY April 14, 1953 H c, NOE 2,634,594

v GUIDE BAR LIFTING MECHANISM FOR WARP KN ITTING MACHINES Filed May 1 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 jwgiiwmm M V.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1953 assent GUIDE BAR LIFTING MECHANHSIW FOR WARP KNITTING MACHINES Application May 1, 1951, Serial No. 223,999

12 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to warp knitting machines, and, more particularly, relates to an improved guide bar lifting mechanism for such machines.

The present invention is primarily concerned with warp knitting machines of the tricot type generally comprising knitting elements including front and back guide bars which rock back and forth and cooperate with needle bars to knit the Warp threads into a web of fabric such as cloth. These guide bars include elements formed with an aperture at the end thereof through which the warp threads are guided, and these elements of the front guide bar are so positioned with respect to these elements of the back guide bar that the elements of the back guide bar are not readily accessible to facilitate threading the warp in setting up the machine or to enable broken warp threads to be rethreaded. In order to facilitate access to the back guide bar elements, it has been customary to provide such knitting machines with mechanism for raising the front guide bar a sufiicient distance to expose the back guide bar elements.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved lifting mechanism for such machines which is simple and economical in construction and is practical in operation.

Another object is to provide such mechanism which comprises a minimum number of parts which are relatively light in weight whereby the mass of the front needle bar supporting and rocking mechanism assembly is reduced to a minimum to permit high speed operation of the machine.

Another object is to provide such lifting mechanism wherein the front guide bar is effectively locked in its normal lower operating position and in its raised position.

A further object is to provide such lifting mechanism which is readily adjustable.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illus- 'trative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

In accordance with the invention, the foregoing objects are accomplished by providing guide bar supporting and rocking mechanism which generally comprises a rock shaft, a plurality of front guide bar brackets movable with the shaft. a guide bar hanger for each bracket supported thereby and mounted for up and down 2 movement thereon, an operating shaft parallel and adjacent to the rock shaft, a plurality of lifting arms on the operating shaft each adapted to effect raising and lowering of the hangers, a control shaft at the front of the machine provided with a plurality of handles'for rotating this shaft, and suitable linkage operatively connect-' ing the control and operating shafts whereby rotation of the former effects turning of the latter.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention" about to be described in detail, the operating shaft is of a diameter in proportion to its length whereby turning movement applied at one end thereof torsions this shaft along its length and causes it to act as a spring which spring effect is utilized to lock the guide bar hangers-in their upper and lower positions. The connecting linkage accordingly is so constructed and arranged that the spring loading effect of the operating shaft is maintained while the hangers are in their upper or lower positions.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational View of a portion of a warp knitting machine embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of one of the front guide bar larly to Figure 1 thereof, there is shown a portion,

of a warp knitting machine of the type indicated herein as viewed from the front thereof to illustrate sufficient operating parts of such a machine to explain the present invention.

This machine generally comprises a bed or base it supporting side frames l l and I2 adjacent the ends thereof a guide bar rock shaft Ill having itsend journallecl for movement in the side frames; front and back guide bars of WhiCh'ODlY the front guide bar i5 is visible in this View; a plurality of guide bar supporting assemblies (herein generally indicated by the reference numeral [6).1 sus-M v pended from the rock shaft It and connected for movement therewith; an operating shaft I 1 adjacent and parallel to the rock shaft and being supported for turning movement as described hereinafter; a control shaft I9 having a plurality of handles 20 thereon; and linkage generally indicated by the reference numeral 2I for operatively connecting the shafts I! and I9.

One of the guide bar supporting assemblies I6 is illustrated in detail in Figures 2, 3 and 4. Since all of these assemblies are practically identical, illustration and description of one of them will suffice. The assembly shown includes a bracket 25 comprising a bore 25 through which the rock shaft I4 extends and in which this shaft is secured to mount the bracket for movement with the shaft, a depending front arm section 21 for supporting a front guide bar hanger 29, a depending back arm section 33 for supporting a back guide bar hanger 3| carrying the back guide bar 32 (Figures 3 and 4) and an upwardly extending lug 34 formed with a bearing 35 for supporting and rotatably mounting the shaft II therein.

The bracket section 21 comprises a flat slide bearing member 36'at the front thereof, a hardened block 37 secured over the bearing member adjacent the upper end thereof carrying a guide plate 39, and a hardened block 43 secured over the bearing member adjacent the lower end thereof carrying a guide plate 4!.

As shown in Figure 2, the hanger 29 is a framelike construction comprising upright side members 42 and 44 having legs 45' and 45, respectively, and upper and lower cross bars 4'5 and 49 rigidly connecting the members 42 and it. These bars are respectively supported for longitudinal movement on the blocks 31 and 4B during normal oporation of the machine, and are respectively guided for such movement as well as for up and down movement by the guide plates 39 and ii (Figures 3 and 4). The legs 45 and 45 have the front guide bar I bolted thereto to suspend the same in its operative position. All of these hangers 29 are identical except that the leg 46 of the hanger at the left hand end of the guide bar (as viewed in Figure 1), extends beyond the guide bar and is provided with elements 50 and 5! (Figure 2) for connecting conventional patterning mechanisrn'mot shown) to the guide bar I5 to effect longitudinal movement thereof and of the hangers 29 rigidly connected thereto.

In accordance with the invention, the guide bar assembly It further includes a lifting arm 52 and an operating arm 54 which cooperate to effect raising and lowering of the hanger 29in the manner about to be described.

The arm 52 comprises a bearing 55 at one end thereof for'pivotally mounting this arm on the operating shaft I1, a pair of spaced fingers 56 at its other end straddling the upper block 31 and the guide plate 39 for engaging the underside of the cross bar ll to effect raising of the hanger, and a hardened block 5! adjacently above the fingers 56 for engaging the upper side of the cross bar 41 to effect lowering of the hanger and to retain the hanger in its normal lower position while cooperating with the block 37 to serve as a bearing for the cross bar. An adjustable screw 58 is threaded downwardly through the block 51 and its lower end engages the upper end of the guide plate 39 to space the cross bar 41 slightly from the block 51 when the hanger is in its lower position (Figure 3) whereby sufficient clearance is provided to enable the bar 41 to slide freely on the block 31 during operation of the machine.

The arm 54 is dog-legged in shape and comprises a central bore through which the shaft I! extends and in which this shaft is secured to connect this arm for turning movement with the shaft, a forwardly extending end section 59 for operating the arm 52 to raise the hanger, and an upwardly extending end section 56 cooperating with a lug SI on the arm 52 for operating the arm to lower the hanger and to retain the same in its normal lower position.

In order to facilitate adjustment between the arms 52 and 5A, engagement between the arms is effected by screw threadedly mounted pins. For example, as shown, the arm 52 carries a pin 62 engaged by the arm section 59 and the arm section 60 carries a pin 54 for engaging the lug BI. Since the pin 64 bears against this lug during normal operation of the machine and these parts are subjected to vibration, wear of the pin and the lug may be minimized by forming the pin of hard metal and securing a screw formed of hard metal in the lug for engagement by the pin.

Referring now to Figure 5, the linkage mechanism shown comprises a bracket I9 secured to the rock shaft I4 adjacent the end thereof and rotatably supporting the operating shaft II, a toggle connection including an arm H for effecting turning movement of the shaft I? and an arm I2 pivoted on the bracket It at It and connected at one end to the arm II by a link I5 having a a pin 16 at its other end, and a bellcrank arrangement I'I pivotally mounted on the side frame I2 at 79 having an arm 89 connected to the pin 16 by a link 8! and having a second arm 82, and an arm 85 rotatable with the shaft I9 connected to the arm 82 by a link such as a rod 85. This linkage mechanism by reason of the toggle connection just described is so arranged that normal rocking of the bracket ID effects no movement of the link 8i and the ele ments connecting the link with the shaft I9 because the arm l2 rocks about the pin I6.

In order to counterbalance the weight of the handles 25 on the shaft i9 when raised upwardly into extending position as indicated in broken lines (Figure 5), a spring 85 under tension has one end connected to the crank arm 88 at 81 and has its other end connected to the side frame I2 at 89.

In operating the lifting mechanism, when it is desired to raise the front guide bar I5 from its normal lower position (Figure 3) to its upper position (Figure 4), one of the handles 25 is lifted upwardly to turn the shaft I9 in a counterclockwise direction (as Viewed in Figure 5). arm as on the shaft I9, through the link 85, the bell crank 71, the link 8|, the arm "I2, the link I5 and the arm II, thereby causes the operating shaft II to be likewise turned in a counterclockwise direction. Such turning movement of the shaft II causes the arms 54 which are movable therewith to effect lifting of the arms 52 which in turn raise the guide bar hangers 29 to the position shown in Figure 4 whereby the back guide bar elements are readily accessible for threading.

The operating shaft I? utilized in knitting machines of the character described is of considerable length and is of such diameter that turning thereof at one end thereof by the arm l 'I effects twisting or torsioning thereof alongits length as the turning force is transmitting from one end of the shaft to the other. This twisting or torsioning spring loads the shaft and this effect can be utilized to cause the shaft The through the arms 54' and 52 to lock the hangers in their upper and lower positions. For example, the elements of the lifting mechanism may be so assembled that when the shaft 11 is midway be tween its hanger raising and lowering positions it will be free of torsion and the resulting spring effect, whereupon turning of the shaft to its hanger up position loads the same to lock the hangers in raised position and whereupon turning of the shaft to its hanger down position loads the same to lock the hangers in normal lower position with the blocks 51 spaced slightly from the cross bars l: by means of the screws 58 engaging the guide plate 39 (Figure 3). This form of construction is particularly advantageous because the guide bar supporting assemblies can thus be greatly simplified and do not require individual springs or looking elements for retaining the hangers in normal lower position for longitudinal and rocking movement with the guide bars.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides an improved guide bar lifting mechanism for warp knitting machines, which mechanism is extremely simple in construction, is readily assembled and operated, and is light in weight and yet is sufficiently rugged to withstand such rough usage to which it may normally be subjected in the course of operating the machine continuously over long periods of time.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a warp knitting machine including and back guide bars, a hanger for the front guide bar, and a guide bar rock shaft: a front guide bar lifting mechanism comprising a bracket mounted on the rock shaft for movement therewith having a bearing extending parallel to the rock shaft, an operating shaft extending through said bearing, means on said bracket for slidably supporting the hanger, an arm pivotally mounted on said operating shaft having means for engaging the hanger to raise and lower the same with respect to said supporting means of said bracket, and a second arm mounted on said operating shaft for movement therewith having means for engaging said first arm to effect raising and lowering thereof.

2. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein means are provided at one end of said operating shaft for turning the same, and said operating shaft is of a length and diameter and is so constructed and arranged to be torsioned upon turning thereof, whereby said operating shaft is spring loaded in effect and the spring loading thereof is utilized to retain said hanger engaging means in position to respectively maintain the hanger in its raised and lowered positions.

3. Mechanism according to claim 1 for a warp knitting machine including a plurality of front guide bar hangers, wherein a bracket, a first arm and a second arm is provided for each hanger all of which are in operative connection with a single operating shaft.

4. Mechanism according to claim 1 for a warp knitting machine including a hanger having up per and lower cross bars, wherein said bracket has a bearing surface at the front thereof against front 6 which the cross bars slide, a block for slidably supporting each of the cross bars and aguide plate for retaining each of the cross bars in sliding engagement with said bearing surface and their supporting blocks.

5. Mechanism according to claim 1 for a warp knitting machine including a hanger having upper and lower cross bars, wherein said bracket has a bearing surface at the front thereof against which the cross bars slide, a block for slidably supporting each of the cross bars and a guide plate for retaining each of the cross bars in sliding engagement with said bearing surface and their supporting blocks; and said cross bar engaging means includes a block positioned for engaging the upper cross bar and cooperating with said bearing surface and said supporting block and said guide plate for the upper cross bar to confine the upper cross bar therebetween.

6. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said means of said second arm include an extension for lifting said first arm and a second extension for lowering said first arm.

7. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said first arm has an upwardly extending lug adjacent said operating shaft and has a pin depending thercfrom, and wherein said means of said second arm include an extension positioned for engaging said pin to lift said first arm and include a second extension and a pin on said second extension positioned for engaging said lug.

8. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said first arm has an upwardly extending lug adiacent said operating shaft and has a pin depending therefrom, and wherein said means of said second arm include an extension positioned for engaging said pin to lift said first arm and include a second extension and a pin on said second extension positioned for engaging said lug, said pins being threadedly mounted for adjustment thereof.

9. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said first arm has an upwardly extending lug adiacent said operating shaft and has a pin depending therefrom, and wherein said means of said second arm include an extension positioned for engaging said pin to lift said first arm and include a second extension and a pin on said second extension positioned for engaging said lug, said lug having means providing a wear resisting surface and said pin on said second extension being formed of wear resisting material,

10. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein means for turning said operatin shaft are provided including a control shaft having a handle thereon for rotating the same and having an arm thereon, a second bracket mounted on the rock shaft for movement therewith and having a bearing through which said operating shaft extends, a toggle arrangement having one end connected to said operating shaft for turning the same and having an element at its other end positioned to provide a point about which said element pivots when said second bracket moves with the rock shaft, and linkage means operatively connecting said arm on said control shaft and said element at said point.

11. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein means for turning said operatin shaft are provided including a control shaft having a handle thereon for rotating the same and having an arm thereon, a second bracket mounted on the rock shaft for movement therewith and having a bearing through which said operating shaft extends, a

7, toggle arrangement havin one end connected to said operating shaft for turning the same and having an element at its other end positioned to provide a point about which said element pivots when said second bracket moves with the rock shaft, and linkage mean operatively connecting said arm on said control shaft and said element at said point; said toggle arrangement consisting of an arm connected with said operating shaft, an arm pivoted on said second bracket having an extension at one end providing said element and having a second extension at its other end, and a link connecting said second extension and said herein mentioned arm connected to said operating shaft.

12. Mechanism according to claim 1 for a warp knitting machine including a plurality of front guide bar hangers, wherein means for turning said operating shaft are provided including an arm connected to said operating shaft for turning the same, a rotatable control shaft having a plurality oi handles thereon to efiect lifting oi the hangers and having an arm thereon movable therewith, linkage means connecting said hereinmentioned arms, and a spring under tension connected with said linkage means for counterbalancing the weight of the said handles when in their raised position.

HAROLD C. NOE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

